Knockdown kite reel



Jan. 5, 1932. SHAW 1,840,214

KNOCKDOWN KITE REEL Filed April 7, 1931 1 anon V601,

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HERBERT C. SHAW, OF HARRISBURG,PENNSYLVANIA KNOGKDOWN KITE REEL Application filed April 7, 1931. SerialNo. 528,403.

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has reference to improvementsin kite reels, and more particularly it is my purpose to provide a kitereel'which may be readily and quickly knocked-down or disassembled forshipment, storage, or transportation in a small, flat package. Forinstance, the parts of'the kite reel may be'placed in a very small boxand shipped through the mail at very slight expense and with littlechance of becoming broken.

One of the main draw-backs of flying kites, especially for smallchildren, isthefact that they have difficulty in handling the kitestring. The string becomes tangled and twisted and unless one isexperienced in the'flying of kites and the gradual letting-out of the,

string so that the kite is maintained under an even tension, theoperation of flying a kite becomes very difficult. It is believed thatthe lack of a practical, cheap, and inexpensive device for handling thekite string has largely become responsible for the lack of interestshown in kite flying by children of the present day. Ordinarily, reelsare too expensive for the childs purse or too complicated for him tohandle. A practical reel must possess simplicity, extreme cheapnesscoupled with durability, and must be able to be transported in a smallpackage and put together by one WIlKIOlly ineXperienced in mechanics andthe li e.

My invention is designed to serve these .ends and among its many objectsand advantages may be briefly defined the following:

First, my entire reel assembly is formed of but four pieces, which maybe readily put together and taken apart by a child, which can not bebroken, and which can be packed and shipped, or transported in a verysmall package.

Second, my reel frame is formed of but one piece of wire, and thecombination axle and ly set-up and taken down by one who has very littleability, as for instance, a child of immature years and without anyexperience in mechanics.

Fourth, there are no parts to become broken and the reel will wearindefinitely and has suflicient capacity to handle a kite cord or stringof average length.

Fifth, the reel frame is so formed that it forms a guide for the threadand also a desirable means for handling the reel, that is, one end ofthe frame is rested upon the chest and the other end grasped by thechilds hand so that the cord is threaded through the eye of the frameand between the fingers and the reel frame, held steadily against thechest so that he will not become tired out, and

Sixth, the construction of my kite reel is such that it can be sold atvery small cost, that is, commensurate with the ability of a small childto pay, and it is very simple in con-- struction and practical inoperation.

Other and equally important objects will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, but it is pointed out that determinationof the scope of the invention should only be conclusive when made in thelight of the subjoined claims. I

In the drawings wherein my kite reel and its several parts areillustrated Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kite reel assembly. 7

Figure 2, views A and B, are of the two parts of the paddle or reel, perse.

- Figure 3 is a view of the reel frame, and

Figure 4: is a view of the reel handle and ax e. I

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used todesignate like or similar parts The numeral (1) designates the reelframe which is rectangular and elongated in shape and has a forward end(2) and a rear end (3) and parallel sides (4;). The reel frame is formedof a single strand of wire twisted to form a handle 8), a handle shank(9) and an axle part (10). The remaining spaced parallel parts of thewire form an axle (11) with a spaced center opening (12) and the endsarebent together as at (13). The paddle or reel, per se, is formed oftwo similarly shaped members, A and B, respectively as shown in Figure2. These may beof wood or any other suitable material and have notchedends (14) to receive the cord. Each has a notch midway its ends, and inone side edge thereof, designate (15) which extends to a pointsubstantially the breadth. In assembling the paddles or reel, per se,the paddles are crossed and the notched parts (15) placed together sothat the notch of each paddle overlaps and engages the remaining part(16) of the paddle to be held together.

When knocked-down, the two paddles, A and B, are placed, one on top theother inside the frame (1), and the combined handle and axle is placedthereon so that the entire knock-down assembly may be shipped in a verysmall package. In assembling or setting-up the reel, the handle andshank are slipped through the right end eye (6) of the frame. The twopaddles, A and B, are fixed together and the strands (11) are pulledapart, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4,

so that the paddles may be slipped into the .space between them. Thestrands (11) spring back of their own accord so that the ends (18) lieagainst each other and they are thereupon inserted in the left hand eye(6) of the frame (1); the side of the frame being sprung out as shownindotted lines in Figure 3, so that the ends (18) may be inserted in theeye This completes the assembly. 7

In operation, the end of-the frame is' held against the chest. One handis placed over the end (2) of the frame with the eye (5) located betweenthe fingers of the hand so that thekite cord, indicated by dotted linesat- (C) will pass through the eye (5) and between the fingers and willextend around the paddles or reel, per se, in the notches (14). Theassembly is shown in Figure 1; The proper tension is maintained on thekite cord, it can not become tangled or twisted, and the child will notbecome tired or confused in handling the kite and the reel. Since slightchanges may be made in the details of construction of this reel withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, it is again emphasized thatinterpretation of the scope of the invention should only be c0nelusivewhen made in the light of the appended claims.

I claim: a 1. A knock-down kite reel, comprising a frame formed ofasingle strand of wire, a combined handle and axle formed of a singlestrand of wire, and a pair of interfitting members, carried by the axleand formed to provide a reel to receive thereon a kite cord. 2.Aknock-down kite reel, comprising a frame formed of wire, bent toprovide'ends and sides, and an eye in one end and opposed eyes in therespective sides, combined handle and axle formed of a single strand oftwisted wire and carried in the eyes of the sides of the frame, and apair of members interfitting together and .carried by the axle toreceive the kite reel cord and disposed to train the cord through theeye in the end of the frame. 7 r

3. A knock-down kite reel construction, comprising a frame and acombined axle and handle, the frame formed of a single strand of wire,bent to provide a support for the reel and bearings for the axle, thecombined axle and handle, formed of a single strand of wire, bent toprovide parallel spaced portions, and a reel assembly received betweenthe parallel spaced portions and retained in position thereby.

4. A kite reel assembly, comprising a wire frame, a combined axle andhandle formed of a single strand of wire, said frame formed withbearings for the axle and adapted to be sprung apart to mount the axlein the bear-.

hereto.

HERBERT C. SHAW.

